Preventive dental care is the best tool at your disposal for preventing dental problems.
Did you know that cavities and gum disease are preventable? This is why knowing how to properly care for your teeth and gums provides invaluable and long-term benefits for your health. Our Newberg, OR, family dentist Dr. Angela Toy wants to see her patients leave the office with cavity-free smiles. Of course, in order to do this, you have to practice preventive dental care.
What does preventive dental care entail?
In order to protect the health of your teeth and gums you need to,
- Brush twice a day (for a minimum of two minutes each time)
- Floss daily
- Replace your toothbrush or toothbrush head regularly (once bristles look worn)
- Quit smoking
- Limit alcohol
- Eat a healthy, diet that is low in sugar and starches
- See your dentist every six months for routine checkups
Taking these necessary and easy precautions is all you need to protect against gum disease and decay; however, there are additional preventive measures that your family may want to take, and you may want to talk with our Newberg, OR, dentist about,
Dental sealants: Sealants provide your child’s back teeth with an additional layer of protection against cavities. Since back teeth are particularly prone to decay, we can reduce the risk by sealing the chewing surfaces of these molars with this thin, plastic coating. Sealants are more commonly placed in children once their molars erupt; however, teens and adults can also benefit.
Fluoride treatment: It is also important that you are getting enough fluoride every day, which can prevent the formation of decay and keep enamel healthy and strong. If you aren’t getting enough fluoride from drinking water your dentist may provide you or your child with additional fluoride treatment when you come in for your biannual cleaning.
Athletic mouthguard: since dental injuries are particularly common in athletes, it’s important to protect your beautiful smile with a mouthguard. Our dentists can make custom-fitted mouthguards, which are more comfortable and provide superior protection. By wearing your mouthguards every time you play sports you can minimize your risk for injury.
Night guards: If you are prone to nighttime teeth grinding and jaw clenching this can cause excessive wear and tear on teeth; however, our dental team can also create custom nightguards, which you can wear while you sleep. This will greatly reduce any damage to teeth that may occur as a result of teeth grinding.
When was the last time you and your family visited your Newberg, OR, dentist for a cleaning? If it’s been more than six months then it’s time to call Arbor Hills Dental at (503) 538-2143 to schedule appointments for everyone.